Half-ton pickup redux

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Ashful said:
I have never had a locker diff on a truck that I drove on-road, I imagine that would be downright scary in snow! I have had lockers on dedicated off-road vehicles, and a full spool in one car, which was a touchy cornering just on wet pavement.

Never drove an auto 4wd, but it sounds like I’m not missing much, then, as that’s my interpretation of what they’re putting in the newer RAMs (other than the Outdoorsman model). I will continue with my old-school 4wd.

BTW, they’ve also gone to push-button transfer case shifter, on the latest generation. My 1975 truck had manual locking hubs and a lever to shift the transfer case, and I could instantly shift between 2wd/4wd with no delay or frustration. My 1995 truck had auto-locking hubs and a lever to shift the transfer case, and there was some frustrating delay in shifting in/out of 4wd, in fact sometimes it wouldn’t shift if the hub solenoids got too wet (like, when it snows). My 2005 truck kept the same system as 1995, but resolved the finicky solenoid issue, overall a good system, but now my 2015 truck is full push button. The delay is back, in fact longer than usual, and it’s far less safe hunting for the right button (of five) to hit on the dash cluster in the dark when sliding on snow at night than grabbing a lever. Of course, with the shifter as a big knob on the dash, right next to the volume control, I’m still having to train myself not to shift the damn thing into reverse at highway speeds, when I want to turn down the volume on the radio.
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My ram is fabulous, just pull the lever when traveling under a certain speed. I've used it up to 35 MPH.
 
My door plate call s for 36PSI and right now theres 45lbs in the tires. I may reduce it to 36 to see if the ride improves. I seldom carry more than 500-700 lbs of cargo.
 
Seasoned Oak said:
My door plate call s for 36PSI and right now theres 45lbs in the tires. I may reduce it to 36 to see if the ride improves. I seldom carry more than 500-700 lbs of cargo.
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It will improve ride but hurt fuel economy slightly. Probably not enough to notice at the pump. What are the tires rated for?
 
SpaceBus said:
My ram is fabulous, just pull the lever when traveling under a certain speed. I've used it up to 35 MPH.
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Yeah, I miss the lever. Is your RAM an antique? I had a lever on my '05, but all of the newer RAM's I've been in are push button. Around here, the bodies rot at 10 years, thanks to the amount of salt and brine they use on the roads. I kept that last one to age 12, and it was perfect mechanically with only 70k miles, but the doors and fenders were starting to rust. It doesn't help that I drive my truck pretty much only in bad weather, and then it sits damp thru ever nice day, when a good drive might help to dry it out.
 
bholler said:
It will improve ride but hurt fuel economy slightly. Probably not enough to notice at the pump. What are the tires rated for?
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I think 45 is max. Roads are pretty bad around here so it may be worth it . And Rt 81 is suicidal. Been using Rt 80 whenever i go north and east, so much nicer drive.
 
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Ashful said:
Yeah, I miss the lever. Is your RAM an antique? I had a lever on my '05, but all of the newer RAM's I've been in are push button. Around here, the bodies rot at 10 years, thanks to the amount of salt and brine they use on the roads. I kept that last one to age 12, and it was perfect mechanically with only 70k miles, but the doors and fenders were starting to rust. It doesn't help that I drive my truck pretty much only in bad weather, and then it sits damp thru ever nice day, when a good drive might help to dry it out.
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I guess you could call it an antique since it's an 06. Last year of non emissions diesel. This truck came from the south, so no rust. This last winter wasn't bad, but we try not to drive unless we have to when they salt and brine everything. Soon-ish I'm going to coat the under body and try and get this truck to last the rest of my life.
 
Seasoned Oak said:
I think 45 is max. Roads are pretty bad around here so it may be worth it . And Rt 81 is suicidal. Been using Rt 80 whenever i go north and east, so much nicer drive.
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Yeah I'd try dropping pressure
 
Seasoned Oak said:
... And Rt 81 is suicidal.
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Your opinion on that is questionable, unless you’ve driven the Surekill Deathway (aka Schuylkill Expressway). Sometimes I send folks from the airport to here using that route, just for the fun of hearing their comments on it. You know, things like, “I have never seen a road like that in my life!” And, “How many people die on that road every day?”

It’s a road where the traffic continuously and instantly varies between 75mph and full-stop, and if you leave more than six feet between yourself and the guy in front of you, someone will jam their car into the gap to pass you. Most of it is carved into a rocky hill side, between old railroad tunnels and the river, so fresh water springs or run-off trickling down thru the mountain rock and causing mini rock slides or freezing on the road adds to the winter fun.
 
Ashful said:
Your opinion on that is questionable, unless you’ve driven the Surekill Deathway (aka Schuylkill Expressway). Sometimes I send folks from the airport to here using that route, just for the fun of hearing their comments on it. You know, things like, “I have never seen a road like that in my life!” And, “How many people die on that road every day?”

It’s a road where the traffic continuously and instantly varies between 75mph and full-stop, and if you leave more than six feet between yourself and the guy in front of you, someone will jam their car into the gap to pass you. Most of it is carved into a rocky hill side, between old railroad tunnels and the river, so fresh water springs or run-off trickling down thru the mountain rock and causing mini rock slides or freezing on the road adds to the winter fun.
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I have driven both allot and yes the Schuylkill has more traffic so it is a pain. But 81 is pretty bad. You have fast aggressive drivers then people going 45 in the fast lane.
 
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Was referring to the potholes in the road , not so much the other drivers driving habits. Many trips to JFK to fly to the other side of the globe, the most dangerous part of the journey is for sure the Schuykill Expressway.
 
Seasoned Oak said:
Was referring to the potholes in the road , not so much the other drivers driving habits. Many trips to JFK to fly to the other side of the globe, the most dangerous part of the journey is for sure the Schuykill Expressway.
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I never minded the expressway that much other than it took forever to get anywhere.
 
Seasoned Oak said:
My door plate call s for 36PSI and right now theres 45lbs in the tires. I may reduce it to 36 to see if the ride improves. I seldom carry more than 500-700 lbs of cargo.
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That should make a notable difference in ride. Trucks these days are sold with car tires on them. I put 10-ply load E rated tires on the F150. Ran them at 38# normally and 60/70# with the camper on.
 
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Id say the reduction from 45 to 36PSI (Door plate recommended PSI) produced at least a 20 to 30% softer ride. Got one PSI tire indicator dash display that is off by 6lbs or so but thats probably common. Rt81 recently got a multi mile blacktop paving between Minersville and Frackville exits and is so much better. But 61 south going to pottsville will realign your front wheels. Hit a pothole there you could loose a VW beetle in.
 
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Given the hoopla over the new GMC multi functional tailgate im wondering why they dont have an EXTENDABLE box option. Make a 6,5 Ft bed into an 8 foot bed at the push of a button. Should be easy enough.
 
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Seasoned Oak said:
Given the hoopla over the new GMC multi functional tailgate im wondering why they dont have an EXTENDABLE box option. Make a 6,5 Ft bed into an 8 foot bed at the push of a button. Should be easy enough.
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That would be an amazing option, but I think bed length is determined by wheelbase ultimately.
 
SpaceBus said:
That would be an amazing option, but I think bed length is determined by wheelbase ultimately.
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Yeah, you’d have to move the rear axle to make it useful. When I move 8 ft lumber on my 5.5’ bed, the truck almost pops a wheelie from the cantilevered weight behind the rear axle.
 
Ashful said:
Yeah, you’d have to move the rear axle to make it useful. When I move 8 ft lumber on my 5.5’ bed, the truck almost pops a wheelie from the cantilevered weight behind the rear axle.
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So far I've transported 12' lumber and haven't had any issues. I think beyond 14' the weight will tip the lumber out on bumps.
 
SpaceBus said:
So far I've transported 12' lumber and haven't had any issues. I think beyond 14' the weight will tip the lumber out on bumps.
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Regular limber is fine, but try pressure treated! I’ve been moving large loads of pressure treated 8-10 footers, recently. The truck can take that weight in the front of the bed, no issues, but when a third or more is out past the tailgate it squats hard! But that’s the price you pay for a crew cab on a 140” wheelbase, and that cab is great for family stuff, I just had it packed with sailing gear this afternoon! I have a 7000# trailer for when loads are larger than the short bed can handle.
 
Ashful said:
Regular limber is fine, but try pressure treated! I’ve been moving large loads of pressure treated 8-10 footers, recently. The truck can take that weight in the front of the bed, no issues, but when a third or more is out past the tailgate it squats hard! But that’s the price you pay for a crew cab on a 140” wheelbase, and that cab is great for family stuff, I just had it packed with sailing gear this afternoon! I have a 7000# trailer for when loads are larger than the short bed can handle.
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You also have a 1/2 ton. He has a deisel dually. That big Cummins and he tranny up front is a bit of a counter weight. And a lot stouter suspension in the back
 
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bholler said:
You also have a 1/2 ton. He has a deisel dually. That big Cummins and he tranny up front is a bit of a counter weight. And a lot stouter suspension in the back
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It would be difficult to overload the truck with wood. I doubt there's enough room even with stakes.
 
bholler said:
You also have a 1/2 ton. He has a deisel dually. That big Cummins and he tranny up front is a bit of a counter weight. And a lot stouter suspension in the back
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The thread is about 1/2 tons, so I assumed he was talking about one.
 
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Only thing available right now is those cattle fence looking things that extend out to the end of the lowered the gate. And some lame gadgets that fit into the receiver hitch. Lots of time you need more room when not a lot of weight involved. One of my friends cant even fit his trail bike on the back of his 5.5 ft dodge without lowering the gate. Im liking the shorter wheel base for parking and turning radius but mostly for getting thru some really bad roads in the mountains. I already have the only sure fire long bed option,which is a long bed HD older truck when i need it with a HD Ladder Rack on it to carry my 20 Ft Scaffolding walkways.
 
The issue is not a “shorter wheelbase”, Oak. I believe they’ve been making the same 140 inch wheelbase for decades. It is that the cabs have grown!

STD cab + 8’ bed = 140” wheelbase
Ext cab + 6.5’ bed = 140” wheelbase
Crew cab + 5.5’ bed = 140” wheelbase

Pick your poison, they’re all still available. But the crew/5.5’ is overwhelmingly the most popular today on the 1/2 ton trucks, so pre-owned options are mostly that configuration.
 
Ashful said:
The issue is not a “shorter wheelbase”, Oak. I believe they’ve been making the same 140 inch wheelbase for decades. It is that the cabs have grown!
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My trucks wheelbase is 119. So it is shorter than the norm. STD cab with 6.6 Box.
 
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